Q & A

To stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important to use virtual tools for communication. If you’re hiring local interior and exterior painters, contact them to see if they’ll set up a video call to assess your project. During this call, they can get a feel for what needs to be done and may be able to give you a price quote.

Discuss potential plans and strategies for getting the work done safely. And ask whether they accept virtual or digital payments.

To figure out whether a painter is considered an essential service provider during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit your local jurisdiction or state’s government website for information.

The CISA website also provides a helpful resource: Identifying Critical Infrastructure During COVID-19. This page is intended for a national audience and includes 16 different categories of critical infrastructure sectors. Some jurisdictions follow CISA’s definitions of critical infrastructure, but not all of them do.

If you hire a painter, maintain at least 6 feet of distance at all times, sanitize involved surfaces and spaces, and use digital payment services instead of cash or a check. When contacting and consulting with a painter, make sure you discuss a plan that will keep everyone safe while the painter works on your project.

Many painters accept digital payments through Venmo, Square Cash, Google Pay, PayPal, Zelle and others. Due to COVID-19, others may quickly adopt this technology to maintain social distancing practices and follow health recommendations.

Contact professionals beforehand to ensure they’re able to accept digital payments and continue to follow safety guidelines throughout your interactions. Compare local interior and exterior painters’ profiles to see which types of payments they accept.

If you’re hiring an exterior painter, the painter will likely not need to enter your home. But for interior paint jobs, the painter will need to enter your home.

When talking to potential painters, discuss a strategy to make sure you and the painter(s) stay safe while they’re completing the job in your home. Or, you might want to discuss scheduling the paint job at a later date.

Though painting has always been an in-person job, painters may be willing to offer some virtual help due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. If you come across painters’ profiles that state they offer remote services, message the painters to see what those services include.

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